it's getting better all the time

this weekend i made myself do this. here we go - things i enjoy about being at reba

- the changing color of leaves
- friends houses all in walking distance
- living simply
- cooking meals for 11-15
- developing friendships with the people i live with at the clearing
- discovering the admiration i hold for the other apprentices
Julia’s kindness
Christine’s gentleness
David J.'s wisdom
David H.'s sympathy/concern/sincerity/humility
Ruth’s determination and passion for social justice through action
Peter’s style of confrontation
Heidi's determination and courage
- Sitting by the window in my room, watching the birds, hearing people play in the park
- the opportunity and time to read
- evening prayers at the patch
- sharing communion with my small group at the clearing
- routine that allows me to develop spiritual disciplines and formulate good habits
- getting letters in the mail
- snickers, the dog
- walking to the beach
- sitting on the porch swing
- finding comfort through my struggles and confusion
- visiting with Linda, writing down her poetry, listening to her stories, sharing my own with her
- worship at the meeting house
- having a good place to ask questions about the church without losing hope
- discovering how my gifts/talents/passions can be used
- Scripture reading in the morning at the breakfast table

not what i miss

saturday night a couple of friends and i sat on the porch talking. somehow we started talking about scents and i remembered how much i loved and missed bath&body's peppermint grapefruit body wash and salt scrub. right now it feels a little weird that i once paid so much money for something like that. now when i bathe like twice a week in an effort to feel like i'm doing something for the environment by conserving water.

"what else do i miss?" i asked. as soon as i started thinking about it, i realized i made a mistake in asking the question. dwelling on that topic is not good for my soul. most days i don't even have to think about the question to know the answer. so, instead i've decided to think about the things i enjoy about my new home.

i will post them when i have them all down.

no more snow here, just cool weather.

it snowed yesterday.

i went outside and stood under it with my mouth open. one of our neighbors, ric, walked by and laughed. he mentioned something about me being from texas.

i tried to take some pictures, but i think my camera is officially dead. so, no more pictures i guess. it'll be a good practice in fostering imagination.

a part of something bigger

i have the day off today in celebration of columbus day. i am so grateful for it after an odd, frustrating, tasking weekend. it's not worth going into and some of you have already heard all about it, so i'll skip that.

this morning i woke up and remembered i hadn't changed the parking permit on my car. so i got another ticket. it's so frustrating. i have two tickets right now that i'm contesting. i finally found out this weekend that there are places where i can park without having to have the permit, so i moved my car there. each ticket is worth $30 dollars and if you know anything about me, you know i don't have $30 to spend on parking tickets. if i hadn't gone to bed at 8:30 last night i might have remembered. why would anyone go to bed so early?

so this morning i woke up to the parking ticket. walked to the post office for a stamp to mail off my credit card bill and discovered that the post office is closed. i really should've thought about that. came home and read some before lunch.

after lunch, the clearing gang (8 of us + 2 guests) walked to the home of a couple who generally eat lunch with us. they are both 90 and because he now needs the use of an oxygen tank, linus could not come to lunch. today was their wedding anniversary - 64 yrs. since they couldn't come to us, we walked over with cake and ice cream to celebrate. "is this our 64th wedding anniversary?" virginia asked. "linus, did you know?" we assured them it was indeed their anniversary. we sat, ate, and listened to the two share stories about the day they were married, the children they have raised, and how blessed they have been through their 64 years together. dana, their neighbor, came over with flowers and she and andrew (married now for 7 weeks) joined us for cake. "will you go get the camera?" i heard her ask andrew, "we need pictures. this is a very special anniversary."

i think we all felt that way. when linus and virginia come around, i notice a slight change in the actions of those around, as though they are reminded that we must enjoy every moment with them to the fullest. i see everyone taking in every word, smile, touch, getting it all in before the opportunity is gone. i love being a part of this. knowing that linus and virginia are here and not in a nursing home because they have a community who supports them, helps them, loves them. i play such a small role in the great love shown to everyone here, but my presence always feels necessary and important.